Fuel-Efficiency Finds: Cars That Get at Least 30 MPG Combined

With gasoline topping $3.50 a gallon nationally and with future price increases almost a certainty, automakers are aggressively touting their gasoline-burning cars that get 40 miles per gallon.

The problem is the fine print after that number. That's when you find out the claim refers to 40 mpg on the highway, as rated by the EPA, and that the 40 mpg club is composed mainly of specially equipped, limited-production high-efficiency models.

In other words, there are only a few cars in the 40 mpg club, and you'd have to do all your driving on the highway to realize the fuel-economy benefit from the handful of compacts and subcompacts that make the grade.

For cash-strapped motorists who actually drive in congested city traffic as well as on the open highway, here's a longer, more usable list: cars and trucks that deliver fuel economy of at least 30 mpg on the EPA's combined city-highway scale. The EPA creates its combined rating using a complicated formula that adds roughly 55 percent of the city rating to 45 percent of the highway rating.

All the members of the 40 mpg club are included here, but this list of vehicles that deliver 30 mpg or more provides a lot more variety for shoppers in search of significant fuel savings. For you early adopters, it also includes vehicles that use such alternative fuels as electricity and natural gas. These cars are from the 2011 and 2012 model years; check back for the 2013 vehicles, which will be added soon.

Assuming gasoline is selling for $3.50 a gallon, a 30-mpg car with a 15-gallon fuel tank costs $52.50 to fill. It delivers 450 miles of range for a fuel cost of 11.67 cents per mile. A 25-mpg vehicle with a 15-gallon tank costs the same to fill, but delivers less range — 375 miles — and the fuel cost per mile rises to 14 cents per mile, a 20 percent cost increase. As the price of gas increases, so do the savings from driving a vehicle that delivers 30 mpg — or 40 or 50 or more. Whether the savings will offset the potentially higher price of these more efficient vehicles depends on the size of the efficiency premium. In addition to cost savings, there are the intangible benefits that many people value, such as reducing oil use and tailpipe emissions.

Big Still Bad for Fuel Economy
There are no pickups, large traditional SUVs or minivans on this list. There is only one sport exotic. If you have to tow a boat, haul a soccer team or go 130 mph through the twisties in your local mountains, you won't do it yet in a 30-mpg vehicle. The 52-mpg Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid gets close to the speed record, however, with its 125 mph top speed. But its base price is nearly $100,000.

"Big" and "fuel-efficient" still aren't on speaking terms, in other words. But as automakers continue to perfect gas-electric hybrid systems and fuel-saving technologies for gas and diesel engines, the day will come when those two descriptions can peaceably coexist.

As things now stand in the U.S. market, just 50 vehicles out of 331 from the 2011 and 2012 model years can deliver 30 mpg combined city and highway fuel efficiency, according to the EPA's formula. The good news is that this is a nearly 30 percent increase from mid-2011, when Edmunds first compiled a list of 30-mpg combined vehicles.

Station Wagons, Conventional Gas Burners, Diesels From Europe
As you scan the list, you'll note that if it weren't for a single Audi, the Fiat 500, a trio of Volkswagens and BMW's Mini and Daimler's Smart minicars, European autos would be absent from the list. Only two of the traditional domestic manufacturers — Ford and General Motors — have vehicles that make the 30 mpg combined grade. Chrysler is still missing in action when it comes to fuel economy, although the company — now controlled by Italy's Fiat — is working to remedy that situation.

On the plus side, there are more than just tiny subcompacts in the 30 mpg-plus segment. Automakers are improving their overall fuel economy and there are a number of compacts, a few midsize cars and SUV-styled crossovers here. There are even five station wagons — if you include the Mini Cooper Countryman in that category, as Edmunds does. All can deliver at least 30 mpg overall — if you mind your throttle foot.

Most of these vehicles are conventional gasoline burners. But membership in the 30-mpg combined club also includes 17 conventional hybrids, five diesels and all of the advanced electric-drive cars now in the market: Chevrolet's plug-in hybrid Volt sedan, Fisker's plug-in hybrid Karma sedan, Toyota's plug-in Prius hybrid and four all-electric models: the Nissan Leaf hatchback, the limited-production Toyota RAV4 EV, the Tesla Model S and the Mitsubishi i city car, which is sold as the i MiEV outside of the United States.

More To Come
The number of cars that earn 30 mpg will grow in coming years as automakers release more hybrids, assorted plug-in cars and conventional gasoline cars and trucks with more efficient engines. Among them, Ford has just launched an all-electric 2013 Focus EV in several states, and has conventional and plug-in hybrid versions of the C-Max compact wagon and a plug-in hybrid Focus all coming in 2013; BMW plans a 2013 launch of its i3 electric commuter car; GM is preparing a Cadillac that uses the range-extended plug-in hybrid technology developed for the Chevrolet Volt; Fiat has an all-electric version of the subcompact 500 in the works; and Tesla's Model S all-electric sedan, which launched this year with a king-sized 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack, will add trim levels available with smaller battery packs in 2013, reducing both cost and range. Edmunds.com has prepared a story that lists upcoming high-efficiency, advanced technology vehicles.

But for now, this list is it for the combined 30-mpg performers. (We don't rank the all-electric 2011 Tesla Roadster because there is no official EPA rating for the car, which ended production and is now only available in the U.S. as a used model.)

Please note that not all trim and equipment levels of every model qualify for the 30 mpg club. Certain transmissions, larger engines, bigger wheels and tires and even the additional weight created by lots of extra electronics all can reduce fuel economy. The list shows cars by model, style and engine-transmission combo. The listings are in ascending order of EPA-rated combined city-highway fuel economy.

A recent EPA decision to downgrade the estimated fuel-efficiency ratings of a number of Hyundai and Kia models affected a variety of the companies' 2011-'13 models. This list places the affected models in their new, lower fuel-economy categories, and omits those that fell below the 30-mpg (combined) threshold.

Happy hunting for more fuel-efficient driving.

30 mpg
2011 Chevrolet Aveo, all styles (subcompact four-door sedan, 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS (four-door compact sedan, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Honda Fit Sport (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2011 Hyundai Accent, all styles (subcompact hatchback or sedan, 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual or four-speed automatic)

2011 Kia Rio LX, SX (subcompact four-door sedan or wagon, 1.6-liter engine, four-speed automatic)

2011 Lexus RX 450h (midsize hybrid crossover SUV, 3.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Mini Cooper Clubman S (subcompact three-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Mini Cooper S (subcompact two-door convertible or hatchback, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Mini Cooper Countryman (subcompact four-door wagon, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Nissan Sentra all styles (subcompact sedan, 2.0-liter engine, CVT)

2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.8-liter engine, CVT)

2012 Chevrolet Cruze LT, LTZ (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Fiat 500 Lounge (subcompact two-door hatchback, 1.4-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Ford Focus S, SE (compact four-door sedan, hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Honda Fit Sport (subcompact hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2012 Kia Soul (subcompact four-door wagon, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed automatic or manual)

2012 Lexus RX 450h (midsize hybrid crossover SUV, 3.5-liter gas-electric, CVT [continuously variable transmission])

2012 Mazda 2 (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, four-speed automatic)

2012 Mini Cooper S (subcompact two-door convertible, hatchback, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe (subcompact two-door hatchback, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper Roadster all styles (subcompact two-door convertible, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman (subcompact three-door hatchback, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Nissan Sentra, all styles except SE-R and SE-R Spec V (subcompact four-door sedan, 2.0-liter engine, CVT)

2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 S (subcompact four-door sedan, 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.8-liter engine, CVT)

2012 Subaru Impreza, all styles except WRX models (compact four-door sedan and hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, CVT)

2012 Toyota Corolla L, S (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

31 mpg
2011 Honda Fit (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2011 Kia Rio (subcompact four-door sedan, 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2011 Mini Cooper Convertible (subcompact two-door convertible, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Mini Cooper Clubman (subcompact three-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Toyota Corolla (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2011 Toyota Corolla S (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2011 Toyota Yaris (subcompact hatchback or sedan, 1.5-liter engine, four-speed automatic)

2012 Ford Focus SEL and Titanium (compact four-door sedan and hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Honda Civic Coupe (compact two-door coupe, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Honda Civic (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter natural gas engine, five-speed automatic)

2012 Honda Fit base (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2012 Mazda 3 i SV and i Sport (compact four door sedan, hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper Clubman (subcompact three-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper Convertible (subcompact two-door convertible, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper Countryman (subcompact four-door wagon, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

32 mpg
2011 Ford Escape Hybrid, all styles (four-door compact SUV, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Ford Fiesta, all styles (subcompact sedan and hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2011 Ford Focus, all styles (subcompact four-door sedan or hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, five-speed manual or six-speed automatic)

2011 Mazda 2, all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid (compact crossover SUV, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)
Note: Ford has discontinued the Mercury brand, but used vehicles — mostly lease, fleet and rental returns — are still being sold in some areas.

2011 Mini Cooper (subcompact two-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Toyota Yaris (subcompact hatchback or sedan, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Ford Escape Hybrid, all styles (compact four-door SUV, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Hyundai Veloster (compact two-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed automatic or six-speed automated manual)

2012 Mazda 2 (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Mazda 3i Grand Touring (compact four-door hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Mini Cooper (subcompact two-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Mini Cooper Coupe (subcompact two-door coupe, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Honda Civic Coupe (compact two-door coupe, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2012 Honda Civic (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2012 Toyotas Yaris, all styles (subcompact hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, four-speed automatic)

33 mpg
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco (four-door compact sedan, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2011 Hyundai Elantra, all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed automatic and six-speed manual)

2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid (compact four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Fiat 500 Pop, Sport, C Sport (subcompact two-door hatchback and convertible, 1.4-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Ford Fiesta, all styles (subcompact sedan or hatchback, 1.5 liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Honda Civic HF (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2012 Hyundai Accent, all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, four-door sedan, 1.6 liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Hyundai Elantra, all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed automatic and six-speed manual)

2012 Kia Rio, all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, sedan, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Mazda 3i Touring with Skyactiv, Grand Touring with Skyactiv (compact four-door sedan, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2012 Nissan Versa 1.6 S (subcompact four-door sedan, 1.6-liter engine, CVT)

2012 Toyota Yaris L, SE, all styles (subcompact hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI, all styles (compact four-door wagon, 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, six-speed automated manual)

34 mpg
2011 Audi A3 Premium Wagon (compact wagon. 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel engine, six-speed automated manual)

2011 Honda CR-Z, all styles (subcompact hybrid, 1.5-liter gas-electric, six-speed manual)

2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI, all styles (two- and four-door hatchback, subcompact, 2.0-liter turbodiesel, six-speed manual or six-speed automated manual)

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, all styles (compact four-door sedan, 2.0-liter turbodiesel, six-speed manual or six-speed automated manual)

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI SportWagen (compact wagon, 2.0-liter turbodiesel, six-speed manual or six-speed automated manual)

2012 Audi A3 TDI Premium Wagon (compact four-door wagon, 2.0-liter turbodiesel, six-speed automated manual)

2012 Honda CR-Z, all styles (subcompact hybrid, 1.5-liter gas-electric, six-speed manual)

2012 Hyundai Accent, all styles (compact four-door sedan and hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Kia Rio LX (compact four-door sedan and hatchback, 1.6-liter, six-speed manual)

2012 Volkswagen Golf TDI, all styles (compact two- and four-door hatchback, 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, six-speed automated manual or six-speed manual)

2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, all styles (compact four-door sedan, 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, six-speed automated manual or six-speed manual)

2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI (compact four-door wagon, 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, six-speed manual)

2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium (midsize four-door sedan, 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, six-speed automatic)

35 mpg
2011 Lexus HS 250h, all styles (midsize hybrid, four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Lexus HS 250h, all styles (midsize hybrid, four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine, six-speed manual)

36 mpg
2011 Smart Fortwo, all styles (subcompact two-door, two-seat convertible or hatchback, 1.0-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

37 mpg
2011 Honda CR-Z, all styles (subcompact hybrid, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2012 Honda CR-Z, all styles (subcompact hybrid, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2012 Scion iQ (mini two-door hatchback, 1.3-liter engine, CVT)

39 mpg
2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Mercury Milan Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)
Note: Ford has discontinued the Mercury brand, but used vehicles — mostly lease, fleet and rental returns — are still being sold in some areas.

2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

40 mpg
2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

41 mpg
2011 Honda Civic Hybrid, all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.3-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2011 Honda Insight, all styles (compact hatchback hybrid, 1.3-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

42 mpg
2011 Lexus CT 200h (compact hybrid, four-door hatchback, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Honda Insight, all styles (compact hatchback hybrid, 1.3-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Lexus CT 200h, all styles (compact hybrid four-door hatchback, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Toyota Prius V, all styles (midsize wagon, hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

44 mpg
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

50 mpg
2011 Toyota Prius, all styles (midsize four-door hatchback, hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Toyota Prius, all styles (midsize four-door hatchback, hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2012 Prius C all styles (compact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

52 mpg
2012 Fisker Karma, all styles (compact four-door sport sedan, plug-in hybrid, electric drive with onboard gasoline generator, single-speed transmission)

76 mpg
2012 Toyota RAV4 EV (available only in California; midsize crossover SUV, battery-electric, single-speed transmission)

89 mpg
2012 Tesla Model S, (midsize four-door hatchback sedan, battery-electric vehicle, single-speed transmission, Performance, Signature and Signature Performance models with standard 85 kWh battery pack)

93 mpg
2011 Chevrolet Volt (midsize four-door hatchback, plug-in hybrid, electric drive with onboard gasoline generator, single-speed transmission)

94 mpg
2012 Chevrolet Volt (midsize four-door hatchback, plug-in hybrid, electric drive with onboard gasoline generator, single-speed transmission)

95 mpg
2012 Prius Plug-In all styles, available only in selected states (midsize four-door hatchback, plug-in hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

99 mpg
2011 Nissan Leaf, all styles (compact electric vehicle, compact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, CVT)

2012 Nissan Leaf, all styles (electric vehicle, compact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, CVT)

112 mpg
2012 Mitsubishi i, all styles (electric vehicle, subcompact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, single-speed transmission)